Mining/Geology

Siluria – The History of the Oldest Known Rocks Containing Organic Remains; with a Brief Sketch of the Distribution of Gold Over the Earth – Sir Roderick Impey Murchison – First Edition 1854

A very good copy of the first edition of this most important scientific work, published by John Murray, London in 1854.

Thick Royal Octavo, bound in full leather, separate green leather title label, gilt decorations to compartments on the spine. Marbled end papers with the marbling continuing to the page edges, boards with decorative edge gilding to front, back and edge. 523 pages after preliminaries, followed by 37 lithographed plates of the principal Silurian fossils, with descriptive letterpress, folding world map at page 475. Separate folding Geological Map of the Silurian Rocks in pocket at rear.

The coloured folding map (53cm by 43cm) published under Murray drawn by J.W. Lowry and lithographed by Vincent Brooks is a first edition dated 1853 of the Geological Map of the Silurian Rocks and overlying formations as developed in Wales and the Adjacent Parts of England, chiefly prepared for the Geological Survey of Great Britain. It is in very good condition, cloth backed likely at the time of binding.

The plates are well executed, many by James De Carle Sowerby (1787-1872) eldest son of the great James Sowerby and founder of the Royal Botanical Society.

Roderick Impey Murchison (1792-1871) was an incredible individual. Scottish born, born into a wealthy, and was sent to Durham for schooling at the age of 7, after the death of his father. He joined the military and at 16 saw action in the Peninsula War. In 1818 he met Sir Humphrey Davy who persuaded him to pursue science. He joined the Royal Geological Society … his colleagues included, William Buckland, Charles Lyell and Darwin. He worked with Lyell on the geology of the Alps. In the 1830’s he did much research in and around the England Wales border and through that established the Silurian system and then went on to categorise the Devonian and Permian systems.

In 1845 Murchison new several Cornish miners who were off to Australia to explore for gold. They sent back samples … so Murchison new of the discovery of gold in Australia before Edward Hargraves.

He won many distinguished awards including the Royal Society Copley Medal, the Geological Society Wollaston Medal, and the Edinburgh Brisbane Medal (Another Australian connection). Also, many overseas awards. He was President of the Royal Geographical Society on four separate occasions, importantly he was one of the founders in 1830.

A crater on the Moon is named after him as well as geographical features in Greenland, USA, Canada, Antarctica, Uganda. In Australia the Murchison River with its tributaries named, Roderick and Impey.

Murchison and Siluria – First Edition Cornerstone Geology from distinguished author Murchison.

$690.00

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Surveyor’s Prismatic Compass – Retailed by Winsor & Newton, London – Likely Manufactured by Stanley – c1900

A large working surveyor’s prismatic compass.

Blackened brass design 11.0 cm in diameter, weighs 500gm. Engraved on the case lid “Winsor & Newton Ltd, London”. This is the famous supplier or art materials and likely relates to a foray by them into materials for surveying / cartography etc. We cannot find another example of a Winsor labelled instrument, so the initiative was likely short lived. We put the manufacturer as Stanley as there are examples of similar instruments by them in the suggested period.

It really is a super instrument with the added element of fixtures allowing solar measurement or very high vertical objects – see more below.

The sighting arm still contains its “horsehair” and lifts and extends stays in the vertical position. It has the added feature of the variable angled mirror on a rail that runs up and down the sighting arm for high items or solar observations. There is a “fixing” button at the bottom of the sighting ram to lock the compass for solid reading.

The hinged prism housing can be moved to its operating position over the base plate. With the compass held steady and flat a notch on the refractor body is aligned with the horsehair on the arm. A compass reading can be taken through the magnified refractor lens. Attached to the arm are two moveable coloured glass filters in red and amber for solar work and contrast

The silvered compass dial rotates freely, and the glass is free of scratches.

Below the compass is a short, threaded arm for fitting to a surveyor’s pole or equivalent.

Bar a short scratch and a little wear to the blackened cover everything is in fine condition.

Large early prismatic compass with solar reading additions

$190.00

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The Gold Deposits of the Granites-Tanami Districts, Central Australia by P.S. Hossfeld – 1940 [Edric Chaffer’s Copy]

Sought after report of this area that contains the now 600,000 oz per annum Newmont operated mine. To date 12 million ounces have been extracted and mining activities are continuing at a depth of 1.5 km.

The author Paul Samuel Hossfeld (1896-1967) was born in South Australia worked various geological roles in Australia and Papua New Guinea. During WWII he conducted experimental work for the Government in Melbourne returning to his chosen field afterwards retiring as a senior lecturer at the School of Geology, Adelaide University.

Complete report being no 43 of the Aerial, Geological and Geophysical Survey of Northern Australia. Foolscap in size 28 pages of narrative followed by a full set of eight large folding, mainly coloured, folding maps and plans, all in superb condition.

One of the most remote areas of Australia approximately 500kms north-west of Alice Springs. Arthur Davidson was the first European to discover signs of gold in the Tanami desert around 1900. He gave the area the name Tanami from a local word meaning water hole. It was not until this report based on work conducted throughout the 1930’s that the true potential was recognised – another eighty years would pass until the bonanza became real. What other prospects exist within these reports?

The maps, charts etc include

1. Geological Map – the Granites- Tanami District, Central Australia – Colour [65cm x 35cm]

2. Plan of Quorn-Golden Sho-Vee Portion of the Granites Gold-Field etc showing Geology, Lodes, Workings and Assays – Colour [75cn x 45cm]

3. Assay Plan & Sections of Portion of Golden Shoe & Vee Workings etc [70cm x 56cm]

4. Plan of Long Bottom -Bullagitchie Portion – The Granites etc showing Geology, Lodes, Workings, Assays – Colour [65cm x 45cm]

5. Plan of Bunker’s Hill – Chapman’s hill Portion etc – Colour – [65cm x 95cm!]

6. Plan Tanami Goldfield etc – Reefs & Assays – Some colour – [50cm x 75cm]

7. Plan of Northern Portion – Tanami Gold Field etc [70cm x 70cm]

8. Map – Western Portion of Central Australia Showing Topographical Features – [95cm x 75cm]

The final map above ranges from Alice Springs in the south east to Tennant Creek in the north east; Lake MacDonald in the south west and the sandy areas above Tanami in the north-west. A really super maps produced from numerous sources including aerial surveys in 1934, 1937 and 1938.

Ownership signature of past President of the Royal Society of New South Wales, geologist, Edric Keith Chaffer.

The Granites and Tanami Regions Gold Prospects Expertly reported by Hossfeld

$390.00

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Meteorite Craters at Henbury [Central Australia] – Geophysical Report – J. M. Rayner – 1939 [Edric Chaffer's copy]

Report No 42 of the Aerial, Geological and Geophysical Survey of Northern Australia published in 1939.

Report on the Magnetic Survey conducted in 1937 with large folding plan showing craters and position of magnetic traverses and anomalies (75cm x 75cm) and a second folding plate showing the profiles of horizontal and vertical components of the magnetic field (70cm x 55cm). All in very good condition.

Ownership signature of E. K. Chaffer to front page. Edric Keith Chaffer was a geologist and long time supporter of the Royal Society of New South Wales – he was President of the Society in the 1970′s. His interest in all things geological started at Knox Grammar School … there he participated in the schools special interest in climbing. Know were the first school to climb Ayers Rock in 1950 – Chaffer as a participant narrated the film recording the event title – “Red Horizon”.

Thirteen craters ranging from 9m to 200m in diameter.

A significant cluster of meteorite craters can be found on the Henbury Station which is 130km south of Alice Springs. The craters were recognised by A. R. Alderman, who surveyed and catalogued them, in 1931 closely followed by the Bedford group – a substantial amount of meteor samples was removed. Jack Maxwell Rayner (1906-1982) conducted the first serious scientific study in 1937 the work forming the basis of this unique report published in 1939.

The craters have special scientific significant as it is believed to be the only example where all criteria e.g. size, shape, degrees of erosion can be studied in the one place. There are 13 significant craters and Rayner conducted full technical studies on all but crater no 9 {not sure why]. Rayner went on to become Director of the Commonwealth Bureau of Minerals and Resources.

Henbury Meteorite Crater Cluster.

$220.00

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The Foraminifera: An Introduction to the Study of Protozoa- Frederick Chapmen – First edition 1902.

A first edition by Longman, Green et al, London in 1902.

Octavo, 354 pages after preliminaries, illustrated with the little foram beauties. A super work for those fascinated by this many varied and ubiquitous life form. Scarce and in good condition bar a bit of wear to the cloth at edges.

Frederick Chapman (1864-1943) studied and worked as Assistant in the Geological Laboratory at the Royal School of Chemistry, London before emigrating to Australia. He was given a position as palaeontologist at the National Museum Melbourne

Chapman shared his extensive knowledge in this important text on forams.

$120.00

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Geological Observations in South Australia – Tenison Woods – First Edition 1862

A first edition of Father Julian Edmund Tenison Woods (1832-1889) important work on the geology and palaeontology of South Australia – he would become one of the most significant contributors of the period.

Published by Longman Green, London in 1862. Octavo, 404 pages after preliminaries, 32 illustrations, 5 pages of plates and a map. Bound in half leather over cloth with marbled end papers and page edges. The embossed stamp of the New South Wales Library on the lower title approving their release of the book – some strange selections were and still are being made. A very good copy of a scarce and worthy book.

Tenison Woods and his first significant published work of Australian geology

$290.00

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Siluria – The History of the Oldest Known Rocks Containing Organic Remains; with a Brief Sketch of the Distribution of Gold Over the Earth – Sir Roderick Impey Murchison – First Edition 1854

Surveyor’s Prismatic Compass – Retailed by Winsor & Newton, London – Likely Manufactured by Stanley – c1900

The Gold Deposits of the Granites-Tanami Districts, Central Australia by P.S. Hossfeld – 1940 [Edric Chaffer’s Copy]

Meteorite Craters at Henbury [Central Australia] – Geophysical Report – J. M. Rayner – 1939 [Edric Chaffer's copy]

The Foraminifera: An Introduction to the Study of Protozoa- Frederick Chapmen – First edition 1902.

Geological Observations in South Australia – Tenison Woods – First Edition 1862

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